Luke 1:39-65

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

55to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,

60but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

61They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”

64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

65All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.